A message from Kelly Westcott, Lead Practitioner at Rosemead Pre-Prep.

Hi I am also a mummy to a gorgeous little boy named Myles Oscar, affectionately known as ‘Mylo’. Mylo is 3 and a half and he has Down Syndrome. This is our story…

During pregnancy I had many extra scans and screenings due to a mild heart defect. All my husband and I ever needed to know at the end of each appointment was that he was healthy. He was loved unconditionally. Keen to enter the world, Myles was born early at 37 weeks. It was on the day he was born that we received a diagnosis of Down Syndrome. He had a few little complications and needed a little help so he was transferred to King’s where he stayed in their NICU for 4 weeks. Myles’s strength and resilience during this time taught my husband, Ian, and I exactly what we needed to do moving forward. The day our beautiful son Myles was born, our lives changed forever in the best possible way. We were handed a booklet from PADS (Positive About Down Syndrome) and we began our research. We had very little knowledge or experience of the condition. We joined the Facebook group, followed the Instagram page and set to work on building our little community. #positiveaboutdownsyndrome became our new mantra and I made it my mission to show the world how wonderful he is. As soon as Myles came home we got on with life in the same way that any new parents would. We went to baby sensory, baby massage, baby yoga etc.

Over the past 3 and a half years I have watched Myles learn, grow and overcome challenges with nothing but determination and an enormous smile. When I look at him, I see Myles. I see strength, courage, creativity, intelligence and overwhelming joy. I love everything about him, including his DS (although I could live without the 5am wake ups!) Every day I feel proud of the little boy he is turning out to be.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. This year at Rosemead we have decided to support PADS. They are a charity who is working hard to change the perceptions of a life with Down Syndrome as well as supporting the reality of the families who are striving to enable their children to fulfil their potential.

£5 Enables us to send a Heart Buddies Pack for a baby awaiting heart surgery.

£10 Could pay for a PADS Positivity Pack to be sent to a new or expectant parent welcoming their little one into the world.

£21 Provides a signing workshop to parents, grandparents or an early year's setting to promote communication